Vector compression system

Abstract

This disclosure includes surgical anchors and related devices and methods that can be used for surgical bone fracture fixation. Some embodiments involve the use of a polymeric cored braided suture that can be held in place by anchors implanted or inserted into bone on each side of a fracture. In some embodiments, the present anchors can be secured into the bone while maintaining high tension (e.g., relative to certain prior art methods) in the suture during the deployment process. Some embodiments can provide for tensioning (e.g., using a polymeric cored braided suture) to compress the fracture and hold the bone in place, functioning as though the suture has sewn the bone (e.g., fragments or portions) together. This can, for example, provide rigid fixation of a fracture which may be important for healing to occur. The tension preload can provide compression to maintain fixation in the face of tensile and shear loads applied to the bone (e.g., as a result of movement and weight bearing).